Numismatic display devices



.Dec. 18, 1962 R. BURDICK NUMISMATIC DISPLAY DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 23, 1961 INVENTOR. RICHARD BURDICK ATTORNJ Dec. 18, 1962 R. BURDICK 3,

NUMISMATIC DISPLAY DEVICES Filed Jan. 23, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. RICHARD BURDICK A! TORNEY Patented Dec. 18, 1962 3,069,001 NUMISMATIC DISPLAY DEVICES Richard Burdick, 3400 Armstrong Ave., Dallas, Tex. Filed Jan. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 84,103 5 Claims. (Cl. 206-.83)

This invention relates in general to numismatic display devices and, more particularly, to coin holders adapted to protect, as well as display, valuable coins in a coin collection.

At the present time, numismatists have considerable difliculty with the adequate protection and display of coins in a coin collection. Many coins are minted from comparatively soft metals and wear away slightly during circulation. Even after such coins become part of a coin collection, they are likely to become scratched, scarred, or otherwise damaged if allowed to rub against each other in bags or boxes and this is quite undesirable inasmuch as the value of a coin, as a collectors item, is not only attributable to its rarity and its face value, but also to its perfection as a specimen. Consequently, most numismatists keep valuable coins in cloth-lined boxes having circular depressions into which the coins will fit. Obviously, such boxes have many disadvantages. They are expensive and somewhat cumbersome to handle. Moreover, since most coin collections are .very valuable and are usually kept in safes or safe-deposit vaults, the space consumed by such boxes is costly. In addition, a clothlined box has little, if any, display value. Even if covered with some sort of transparent top, only one side of the coin can be viewed unless it is manually removed and turned over.

Another problem encountered by numismatists relates to the diametral size of a coin. All collectors coins, except newly minted ones, are subject to more or less wear particularly around the coined edges and this wear causes variation in diametral size. In fact, there is usually several thousands difference in diametral size between two coins of the same denomination and issue. Consequently, the circular depressions in coin-boxes are substantially oversized with the result that the coins tend to lie loosely with the depressions or compartments housing them and will shift to-and-fro as the boxes are handled. Even when the boxes are lined with the softest cloth, this will, over many years, produce a type of surface polish on one side of the coin which many collectors consider undesirable. In fact, some coin-collectors go to the trouble of periodically turning boxed coins over to prevent differences in the surface appearance of the two sides of a coin. Closely connected with this problem of surface appearance is the matter of the sharpness and clear definition of the coining around the periphery of the specimen. The value of the coin is increased when the coining around the edge is sharply defined and unworn. Consequently, collectors not only desire to protect the coined edge, but also would like to display it, if this were possible.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a numismatic coin holder which will protect the coin and also clearly display both sides thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a coin holder of the type stated which is readily adaptable for receiving and displaying coins of various diametral sizes and also is capable of self-adjustment to compensate for variations is diametral size resulting from wear suffered by the coin during circulation.

I With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets)- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coin holder constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the coin holder;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the interior face of a coin pocket showing in detail the coin-retention prongs forming a part of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the coin holder with a coin in place;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of coin holder also constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 are top plan views of coin pocket inserts forming a part of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary exploded view of the modified form of coin holder shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 1212 of FIG. 7.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate practical embodiinents of the present invention, A designates a coin holder comprising three peripherally registering oblong rectangular plates, 1, 2, 3, adapted to be arranged in stacked relation as shown in FIG. 1, and being respectively pro vided in their four corners with aligned apertures 4 for receiving two-part separable fastener-elements f each consisting of a short tubular internally threaded post 5 and a matching screw 6 which fit axially through the apertures 4 and are interengaged. The posts 5 and screws 6 are provided with identically shaped fiat circular heads 7, 8, respectively, so that when the post and screw are threaded into each other and drawn up tightly the heads will en: gage the outwardly presented faces of the plates 1 and 3 and draw the three plates 1, 2, and 3, tightly into facewise abutting relationship. The upper and lower plates 1 and 3 are formed preferably of a tough transparent synthetic resin, such as methyl methacrylate commonly referred to as Lucite, and the central plate 2 is formed preferably of a non-transparent somewhat more brittle synthetic resin, such as a formaldehyde-urea resin or a poly styrene resin.

The two transparent plates 1 and 3 are flat and serve as cover plates. The central plate 2, however, is provided with a plurality of apertures or coin pockets 9 for receiv: ing a coin of some particular selected denomination and being of substantially larger diametral size than such coin. Each of such apertures or coin pockets 9 is pro vided at uniformly spaced intervals around its interior peripheral surface s with narrow radially projecting triangular prongs 10. The apex of each prong 10 is located closely adjacent to the upper surface of the plate 2 and the face of each prong 10 is substantially co-planar with the underface of the plate 2, substantially as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The width of each prong, at the base, is substantially greater than the diametral tolerance allowed for the coin for which the particular aperture or coinpocket 9 is designed. In other words, a circle drawn through the innermost points of each of the prongs 10 will be substantially smaller in diametral size than the smallest possible coin which can be placed in such particular aperture or coin pocket 9.

Thus, for example, if the aperture of coin pocket 9 is intended to accommodate American half dollars of a certain particular type, the diametral size of the aperture 9 will be somewhat larger than the diametral size of such half dollar when it is newly-minted. The diametral size of the circle drawn through the points of the prongs 10 will, in turn, be somewhat smaller than the smallest diametral size of a badly worn specimen. In use, the separable fastener elements f are removed and the coin C pressed down into one of the apertures or coin pockets 9 so that its peripheral edges bite into and either deform, or possible chip away, the angularly presented edges of the prongs 10 so that the coin C, in effect, becomes embedded therein as shown in FIGS. and 6. The coin C will thus be held in annularly spaced relationship within the aperture or coin pocket 9 in such a manner that the milled edges thereof can clearly be observed. Moreover, if the coin C is slightly undersized, it will still fit properly within the aperture or coin pocket 9 and, finally the coin C will be held securely against movement within the aperture or coin pocket 9 so that it will not rattle around, so to speak.

As shown in FIG. 1, the coin holder A is provided with four apertures or coin pockets 9, but it should be clearly understood that the number of apertures is a matter of choice and a coin holder can be provided with any number of apertures as may be desired. It should also be understood that the four apertures or coin pockets 9 of the coin holder A are of the same size and are adapted to receive American half dollars, but it is also possible to provide a coin-holder in which the various apertures or coin pockets 9' are of different size so as to accommodate coins of different denominations. For example, coin holders with much smaller apertures for receiving nickels or dimes can be provided and, moreover, apertures of different size can be provided in the same coin holder, so that one coin holder can accommodate a plurality of different coins of various denominations.

It is possible to provide a modified form of coin holder A, as shown in FIG. 7, which is substantially similar to the previously described coin holder A and comprises three marginally registering oblong rectangular plates 1, 2', 3, respectively provided with apertures 4 and separable fastener-elements f each consisting of an internally threaded post 5 and matching screw 6, respectively having fiat circular heads 7, 8, all corresponding to the elements of the previously described coin holder A.

The central plate 2 provided with a plurality of circular apertures or coin pockets 11 which are of some relatively large convenient diameter and are provided with plain cylindrical interior surfaces. Provided for snug fitting but, nevertheless, removable disposition within the apertures 11 are circular adapter rings 12, 13, 14, formed preferably of a suitable synthetic resin and having pro- 'gressively smaller internal diametral sizes to accommodate the coins of different denomnations, such as, for instance, U.S. quarters, nickels, and dimes. On their interior faces each of the rings 12, 13, 14, are provided with a uniformly spaced series of inwardly projecting triangular prongs 10 which are substantially identical in shape and construction with the previously described prongs 10 and are likewise capable of being deformed or broken away slightly by the edges of a coin when it is inserted therein.

In use, the coin holder A can be assembled in the manner shown in FIG. 11, the apertures 11 of the plate 3 being provided with a suitable adapter ring, such as one of the adapter rings 12, 13, or 14, and can thus be arranged to accommodate a particular coin of some particular denomination. It will, of course, be understood that the coin holder A is, in a manner of speaking, universal in the sense that its apertures 11 can be made larger than the largest possible coin which could be inserted therein. Then by the use of various different adapter rings which are internally sized for receiving various different coins, the coin holder A will serve to accommodate a very wide range of coin-denominations. Another advantage of the modified form of coin holder A resides in the fact that it may also be readily adapted to accommodate different coins of the same denomination simply by replacing an adapter ring, the prongs 10 of which have been deformed to fit one coin with a fresh adapter ring, the prongs 10 of which have not yet been deformed at all. This is particularly useful for coin collectors who buy, sell, or trade their coins. Since coins of the same denomination are not all of the same identical size, it is quite possible that a subsequent coin of the same denomination would not fit in exactly the same deformations formed in the prongs 10 by a previous coin. In such instance, the coin holder A can be readily adapted to receive the new coin simply by replacement of the adapter ring.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the numismatic display devices may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A coin holder comprising a fiat plate-like member having an upper surface and a lower surface and being provided with at least one relatvely large aperture having radially inwardly projecting prongs for engagement with the peripheral edge of a coin, said prongs having inwardly facing margins which are oblique to the axis of the aperture, said prongs having a triangular shape, the apex of which is located adjacent the upper surface of said plate, the base of said prongs being substantially coplanar with the lower surface of said plate, said prongs being substantially rigid and yet sufficiently frangible so as to be slightly broken away by the coin as it is pressed downwardly into the prongs, and a pair of transparent cover plates removably mounted upon opposite faces of the plate-like element and extending across the aperture therein.

2. A coin holder comprising a plate-like element having at least one aperture extending therethrough, said aperture being substantially larger than the peripheral size of the coin to be housed therein, an adapter ring having an outer peripheral contour and sized substantially identical with the peripheral contour and size of the aperture so as to fit snugly in the aperture, said adapter ring being provided with a plurality of radially spaced inwardly projecting prongs for peripheral engagement with the coin to be held therein, said prongs having a triangular shape, the apex of which is located adjacent the upper surface of said plate, the base of said prongs being substantially coplanar with the lower surface of said plate, said prongs being substantially rigid and yet sufficiently frangible so as to be slightly broken away by the coin as it is pressed downwardly into the prongs, and transparent cover plate means removably disposed upon said platelike element across the aperture and adapter ring fitted within the aperture.

3. A coin holder comprising a flat plate-like member provided with at least one relatively large aperture having radially spaced inwardly projecting prongs for engagement with the peripheral edge of a coin, said prongs being frangible so as to be partially broken away by the coin as it is pressed downwardly into the prongs so that the coin will be snugly held within and in annular spaced relationship to the aperture.

4. A coin holder comprising a plate-like element having at least one aperture extending therethrough, said aperture being substantially larger than the peripheral size of the coin to be housed therein, an adapter ring having inner and outer annular faces, said outer annular face having an outer peripheral contour and size substantially identical with the peripheral contour and size of the aperture so as to fit snugly in the aperture, said inner annular face of the adapter ring being larger in diametral size than the coin to be inserted therein and being provided with a plurality of radially spaced inwardly projecting prongs for peripheral engagement with the coin to be held therein, said prongs having a triangular shape, the apex of which is located adjacent the'upper surface of said plate, the base of said prongs being substantially coplanar with the lower surface of said plate, said prongs being frangible so as to be partially broken away by the coin as it is pressed into the adapter ring and thereby hold the coin snugly in annularly spaced relation within the adapter ring, and a pair of transparent cover plates removably disposed upon opposite faces of the plate-like element in closurewise disposition across said aperture.

5. A coin holder comprising a flat plate-like member having an upper surface and a lower surface and being provided with at least one relatively large aperture having radially inwardly projecting prongs for engagement with the peripheral edge of a coin, said prongs having inwardly facing margins which are oblique to the axis of the aperture, said prongs having a triangular shape, the

apex of which is located adjacent the upper surface of said plate, the base of said prongs being substantially coplanar with the lower surface of said plate, said prongs being substantially rigid and yet sufiiciently frangible so as to be partially broken away by the coin as it is pressed downwardly into the prongs so that the coin will be snugly held within and in annular spaced relationship to the aperture, and a pair of transparent cover plates removably mounted upon opposite faces of the plate-like 10 element and extending across the aperture therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 2,258,535 Buranelli Oct. 7, 1941 2,389,312 Honza Nov. 20, 1945 2,434,553 Ensley Jan. 13, 1948 2,672,977 Seitz Mar. 23, 1954 

